Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-03
Whitman's Agricultural Works
Burned to the Ground.
Other Buildings Catch from
the Flying Sparks.
The Fire Department Does Excellent Service
and SaVeS the Village from a Gen.
eral COndasratiOn.


Winthrop never came nearer to having a
clean sweep by fire than it did to-day.
About noon the agricultural works of w T..
! Whitman were found to be in flames. As
the location of these mills, in one of the
most thickly populated portions of the vii
lage, made fire in this vicinity especially
dangerous, great fears were entertained lest
the flames should spread and general con-
| fiagration result. These fears were strength
ened by the rapid spread of the flames. In
a short time a number of the buildings in the
vicinity had caught from the flying sparks.
The store keepers in the vicinity of the mills
were actively engaged in removing their
goods, and the many residents of the mme
diate neighborhood had their household fur
niture carried TO safe distance. The
whole town became fire company and set
resolutely to work to check the spread of
| the flames. Bucket brigades were formed
and did yoeman's service in preventing the
| flames from extending to the surrounding
buildings The hydrants furnished a good
supply of water and enabled the fire de-
partment to do some very efficient work.
| The selectmen telegraphed to Lewiston
for assistance and an engine was at once
sent to the scene of the fire, with the greatest
possible dispatch. 1t arrived too late how
ever to be of much service, and was not
taken from the train, although some of the
hose was brought into use, OF course the
greatest excitement prevailed but consider
ing the magnitude of the danger the people
of the village conducted themselves ad
mirably and to their prompt action is un-
doubtedly due the preservation of the town.
The spread of the flames were checked, but
the agricultural works were burned to the
ground. This makes the third time that
these works have been destroyed by fire.
4 strange fatiity has seemed to hang over
them. They were destroyed by fire "A num-
bcr of years ago, when the father of the
present proprietor was running them and
again in 1888, and now all that remains of
them is the tall smoke stack. standing like
sentinel amid the smoking ruins. 1t is not
known how the fire originated. At the time
when the fire occurred there was no fire in
the furnace nor in any portion where wood
is worked. There is quite "A general belief,
in which Mr.. Whitman joins, that the fire
was ncendiary The works were doing
fourishing business and giving employment
to a large number of men. An unusually
large amount of stock and goods were in the
shops and all went to feed the flames The
blow falls heavily upon Winthrop, and es-
pecially upon the workmen who are thus
proach of winter. The loss on the works is
estimated at between S25 900 and $50, 600.
ON which there was little if any insurance.
The buildings were owned by stock com
were valued at between $1,000 and $1,000 and
and were insured in the agency of Mayor
Macomber of Augusta for $1,000 The safe
containing the books and papers of the firm
was Iockt-d at noon and remains in the ruins.
1t is thought that its contents will be found
to have escaped injury. Other buildings IN
the vicinity of the fire were more or less
damaged by the flames. but can soon be put
in repair again. 1t was close escape for
Winthrop, and while the whole community
sympathize with Mr.. Whitman in his heavy
loss. general feeling of thankfulness pre-
walls that the village itself was fortunately
spared the general confagration, which at
one time so seriously threatened it.
BY Associated Press.
WINTHROP, Nov, 2.
This evening the town has settled down to
its usual business activity, after the big
scare and narrow escape from such terri
Bile confIagration as attended it this after
noon Everybody is congratulating him
self that the business portion of the village
is saved The cause of the fire is yet
conundrum various opinions still being ex-
pressed regarding it. 1t is severe blow to
the workmeu many of whom have families
A good number have lost their tools in the
blaze.
This afternoon George c. Brewster
Young man 20 years of age was arrested for
setting the fire and locked up, hnt he proved
an alihi and was at once discharged. For
month past he has been employed as night
watchman at Whitmans agricultural works,
but was discharged Monday, and for some
time suspicion rested on him by Mr., Whit
man. but his ease in proving where he was
Wednesday forenoon quickly caused his re-
lease.
Ii is uncertain at this time whether the
works wi II be rebuilt or not.